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GOURMET NEWS www.gourmetnews.com n JANUARY 2015 n GOURMET NEWS 9 4 King Leo and Gilliam Products from Quality Candy Company Quality Candy Company is a leading manu- facturer and distributor of both high quality hard and soft sugar candy. In addition to being a key leader in the foodservice market, Quality Candy also produces two distinct lines of branded products: King Leo ® , the oldest continuously sold brand of peppermint candy, dating back to 1901; and Gilliam ® , a brand of colorful stick candy and high qual- ity hard candy dating back to 1927. Com- bined, the two brands make Quality the leading manufacturer of stick candy in North America. Quality Candy also provides con- tract manufacturing services to leading mar- keters of both mass and niche product lines. It also produces all natural sugar candies and its plant is GFSI Compliant, with an SQF Level 2 Certification. Originally, Quality Candy focused on su- perior candy that banks, restaurants and small businesses gave away to their cus- tomers. Today, Quality Candy Company is the nation's leading supplier of candy to the foodservice and hospitality market. In the 4th quarter of 2014, it launched a new Butter Mint. This item's wrapper can be customized to communicate a specific, customized mes- sage to your consumer. Quality Candy also manufactures and markets the King Leo brand, featuring Soft Peppermint in both Puffs and Sticks as well as in a variety of flavors, both in retail friendly packs as well as bulk. New Royal Mints ® are the latest addition to the King Leo product line. Since 1901, King Leo, originally from Nashville, Tenn., has been synonymous with the word Pepper- mint. The renowned soft peppermint sugar sticks are still made from the original recipe: 100 percent natural peppermint oil, and old-fashioned care. Commencing in 2009, King Leo crushed peppermint bits became available to the ingredient market and quickly established itself as the mar- ket leader. In 2003, Gilliam brand candy, established in Paducah, Ky., in 1927, was added to the already impressive roster of fine Quality confections. Gilliam is the premier brand of old time nostalgic hard candy and can be found across the United States. The Gilliam line features brilliantly colored, hand-striped artisanal candy sticks, as well as Discs, Lol- lipops and nostalgic Sanded Drops in old time flavors. Quality Candy, based in Henderson, Nev., is a privately held business managed by its Owner and Founder Pierre Redmond. The manufacturing plant, which has just been expanded to accommodate sales growth, operates 24 hours a day with a base of approximately 300 employees and 14 production lines. Now the 100,000+ square foot factory is producing over 20 million pounds of candy annually, maintaining vig- ilant attention to high food safety standards and quality assurance programs. Quality Candy Company, founded in 1986, has al- ways maintained its commitment to quality manufacturing, superior ingredients, ex- ceptional personnel and the ability to keep costs competitive. It is this combination that has contributed to its fast paced growth and success. For more information, stop by booth #656, call 702-565-4711 or visit www.qcandy.com. To email a sales inquiry, use sales@qcandy.com. Marieke Gouda – An Artisan, Farmstead Cheese Rolf and Marieke Penterman are first-gener- ation Wisconsin dairy farmers who moved from the Netherlands to Wisconsin in 2002. Because Holland is so small and the popula- tion so dense, farmers are limited in how much land they can obtain for dairying. Hav- ing both grown up on small, 60-head dairy farms in the eastern part of Holland, Rolf and Marieke wanted to pursue their passion for dairy farming in an area that would afford them the capabilities of expansion. Wiscon- sin, with its vast dairy base and farm-friendly people, seemed ideal. They began on a 400 head dairy farm on the outskirts of Thorp, Wis., and so began the whirlwind adventure. Missing the Gouda cheese they grew up with in The Netherlands, Marieke began making cheese in November of 2006, and won Best of Class with Marieke's Foene- greek Gouda for flavored semi-soft cheese in the U.S. Championship Cheese Contest sponsored by the Wisconsin Cheese Makers Association. Since her first win in 2007, Marieke and her team have added over 100 world and national awards for their cheese which include the U.S. Grand Champion at the U.S. Cheese Championship in 2013 and swept the Aged Gouda category at the World Competition in 2014. Marieke ® is their signature cheese, made with an authentic Old World Gouda recipe. The equipment, culture, herbs and spices are all imported from Holland. The rBGH-free cow's milk couldn't be fresher, being piped directly from the first milking of the day into the processing vat. The curd is hand-packed into 18- pound forms before going under the press. It is then brined for 60 hours. The wheels are then transferred to the special curing room and aged on Dutch pine planks which absorb the liquid as the cheese ages. For the first 14 days, the cheese is turned (flipped over) daily to ensure that the butter- fat is evenly distributed throughout the cheese. The wooden planks are also cleaned daily and turned to prevent molds. During this time, the breathable coating is hand- painted on the cheese. After the initial daily turning is complete, the cheese is flipped twice weekly for as long as it is in their facility. In July of 2013, the Penterman's and their team broke ground on a state-of- the-art dairy and creamery right off the highway 29 on the exit of Thorp; a prime location for cheese and diary en- thusiasts traveling the busy highway between St. Paul, Minn. and Greenbay, Wis. They now milk 300 cows and have expanded their retail store hours and cheese making to keep up with their growing popularity. Learn more about Holland's Family Cheese and its authentic raw milk, rBGH-free Gouda Cheese at www.mariekegouda.com. While on the website, order from the online store or call 715-669-5230. MELT Organic: 'It's Hip to be Square!' MELT ® Organic is a line of luscious, all-nat- ural spreads for butter lovers seeking a health- ier alternative. Each variety of MELT is rich and creamy because it is made with organic virgin coconut oil – the healthiest unprocessed saturated fat – in the Perfect Blend™ of fruit- and plant-based oils. Available in Rich & Creamy, Honey and now new Chocolate fla- vors, MELT Organic's Perfect Blend of the healthiest organic oils – virgin coconut, flaxseed, hi-oleic sunflower, palm fruit and canola – is truly good for consumers. MELT spreads sizzle, drizzle, sauté and bake beautifully just like butter, but with half the saturated fat and fewer calories. In addi- tion to supporting healthy weight, the blend of oils in MELT supports thyroid function and metabolism, gastrointestinal health, op- timal nutrient absorption and heart health. Prosperity Organic Foods, makers of MELT Organic spreads, has introduced new Chocolate MELT Organic. Chocolate MELT is a velvety spread made with MELT's Per- fect Blend combined with the rich tastes of organic cocoa and organic wildflower honey. It is a delectable spread for graham crackers or croissants, a delightful dip for strawber- ries, and the perfect addition to favorite brownie or cookie recipes. Chocolate MELT is perfect for school lunches because it is nut- and vanillin-free and contains just one gram of sugar per serving versus the 10-gram equivalent in hazelnut spread competitors. Each variety of MELT is certified organic, kosher and made with non-GMO, eco-social and fair trade ingredients that are ethically sourced. Rich & Creamy MELT, Honey MELT and Chocolate MELT are the first spreads in North America to be Non-GMO Project verified. Rich & Creamy MELT and Honey MELT were each rated a HIT! by the Supermarket Guru in 2010 and 2013, respec- tively, and Chocolate MELT won a 2013 Gold Stevie Award for Best New Consumer Product or Service of the Year. MELT Organic spreads are also trans-fat free, gluten-free, dairy- or lactose-free and soy-free with no artificial colors, flavors or additives. Only MELT uses organic virgin coconut oil that is certified Fair for Life Fair Trade. The MELT line is also the first to be sold in innovative, eco-friendly square pack- ages for easy storage and sustainability. It's Hip to Be Square![C] Rich & Creamy MELT, Honey MELT and Chocolate MELT are sold in 13-ounce pack- ages in more than 5,500 natural-organic, spe- cialty gourmet and conventional retail stores throughout the United States and Canada. For more information, visit www .meltorganic.com. New Recipe, Packaging has Green Mountain Gringo on the Climb With a new tortilla strip recipe and new packaging, Green Mountain Gringo ® is set to increase its brand recognition throughout the market. While Green Mountain Gringo has been in business since 1989, the company recently created a new tortilla strip recipe that deliv- ers a consistently high-quality chip. The new recipe pairs perfectly with Green Mountain Gringo Salsa as well as a wide va- riety of dips. In fact, pairing Green Mountain Gringo Tortilla Strips with Green Mountain Gringo Salsa on the shelf is a great way to increase sales. Green Mountain Gringo Salsa was se- lected as America's "Best Tasting Salsa" in May 2013 by epicurious.com, one of the country's most respected electronic culinary publications. The taste test sampled 19 brands of salsa in a winner-take-all battle for the editor's coveted "EPI Top Pick." The new packaging highlights several of the tortilla strips' key selling attributes. Green Mountain Gringo Tortilla Strips are Non-GMO Project Verified, Certified Gluten-Free, recommended by the American Vegetarian Association and Certified Kosher. They are also lower in salt, and free of aller- gens and preservatives. "We are proud to reintroduce Green Mountain Gringo to the market with new packaging and a new recipe for our tortilla strips," said Kelly Gamache, National Dis- tributor Sales Manager for TW Garner Food Company, the parent company of Green Mountain Gringo. "In today's market, people are more and more concerned about preser- vatives and chemicals in the things they eat. Green Mountain Gringo is a much healthier and safer alternative to many other salsa and tortilla strip brands out there." About Green Mountain Gringo In 1989, Christine and Dave Hume produced the first jar of Green Mountain Gringo Salsa in the kitchen of their Chester, Vt., farm. It was created using fresh ingredients, chopped by hand, cooked with care and ladled into jars. Today, Green Mountain Gringo is part of the TW Garner Food Company, a family- owned business in Winston-Salem, N.C., that has been committed to producing quality products since 1929. Green Mountain Gringo continues to start each recipe with the freshest of vegetables that are picked at the peak of ripeness, and as a result the company continues to produce the freshest jarred salsa on the market. For more information, visit www.green mountaingringo.com or www.twgarnerfood service.com.

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